Holder for storing tools and the like



1966 c. WILCKE 3,285,426

HOLDER FOR STORING TOOLS AND THE LIKE Filed April 11, 1966 3O 20 F E 29 l! 24 45 A 45 26 as 26 FIG-6 I FIG-5 64 65 42 6 12? 45 I II l8 L 62 a 6O FIG-8 66 45M M l L .\l(/- I6 INVENTOR.

CARL WILCKE WW, W7j

ATTQRNEYS United States Patent 3,285,426 HOLDER FOR STORING TOOLS AND THE LIKE Carl Wilcke, 200 W. Thurston Blvd., Dayton, Ohio Filed Apr. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 541,803 7 Claims. (Cl. 21160) This invention relates to a holder for storing various tools or other articles, and more particularly, to an improved holder which is not only economical in construction but provides high strength and rigidity for supporting articles having substantial weight.

The present invention has special relation to a holder which is adapted to be mounted on a wall or other upright surface and is ideally suited for storing tools having handles, as for example, axes, lawn mowers, picks, shovels, rakes, hammers, wrenches and other garden and shop tools. While many different types of tool holders have been made from various materials such as wire, molded plastic and cast metal, the present invention is particularly directed to a holder which is economically formed from sheet material in such a manner to provide a light weight and compactness as well as high strength and rigidity.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved holder for mounting on an upright surface for conveniently storing tools and other articles.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a holder formed of sheet material in such a manner to obtain maximum strength and rigidity at minimum cost; to provide for convenient adjustment for accommodating articles of various widths; to provide means for collapsing the holder when it is not in use or for packaging; and to provide a holder which may also be conveniently used for supporting a shelf without requiring significant space under the shelf.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating a typical use therefor;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of the support arm;

FIG. 4 is a section view generally taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG, 5 is a section view generally taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of the holder in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 6 and showing another modified form of the holder; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view showing the use of a pair of holders constructed in accordance with the invention for supporting a shelf.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention, FIG. 1 shows a holder 10 constructed in accordance with the invention and mounted on a wall or upwardly extending surface 12. For purposes of illustrating a typical application or use of the holder, it is shown supporting a sledge hammer 14 and the handle 15 extending from a lawn mower.

As shown, the holder 10 includes an elongated support member 16 which is formed from a relatively light gauge sheet metal such as galvanized iron and includes longitudinally extending and parallel spaced upper and lower flange sections 18 integrally connected along their length by a web section 20. Also formed as an integral part of the support member 16 is an upper longitudinally ice extending mounting flange 22 and a corresponding lower mounting flange 24 each of which are provided with a series of longitudinally spaced holes 26 (FIG. 4). A corresponding series of screws 28 are inserted within the holes 26 for attaching the support member 16 to the vertical wall surface 12 as shown in FIG. 1 so that the flange sections 18 extend horizontally. Also formed within the upper and lower flange sections 18 are a series of longitudinally spaced aligned holes 29.

A pair of elongated support arms 30 are formed from a relatively light gauge sheet metal material and each arm includes longitudinally extending upper and lower flange sections 32 which are spaced parallel and are connected along their length by an integral web section 36 to form a U-shaped or channel-like cross-sectional configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the upper and lower flange sections 32 of each arm 30 include corresponding tabs 38 extending from one end. The tabs 38 are spaced apart to receive the corresponding upper and lower flange sections 18 of the support member 16 in interfitting relationship. Corresponding aligned holes 41 are formed in the tab 38 of each arm 30 and are spaced from the ends 40 of the tabs 38 for alignment with a pair of holes 29 formed within the support member 16. A bolt 42 is inserted within the aligned openings 29 and 41 so that the arms 30 are mounted cantileveredly and extend in a horizontal direction from the support member 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flange 43 is formed on the inner end of the web section 36 of each of the support arms 30 and projects at right angles between the flange sections 32. The flange 43 is so spaced from the holes 41 that the flange 43 engages the front surface of the web section 20 of the support member 16. Also, the ends 40 of the tab 38 are spaced from the holes 41 so that the ends 40 abut the front surface of the corresponding mounting flanges 22 and 24 and thereby cooperate with the flange 43 to provide a rigid mounting of the arm 30 on the support member 16 and prevent the arm 30 from pivoting on the bolt 42. Preferably, the outer projecting end portion of the upper flange section 32 of each support arm 30 is curved upwardly to provide a stop 45 to assure that articles will not slide off of the upper flange sections 32 of the support arms 30 without applying an intentional force.

As a result of the series of closely spaced holes 29 formed in the support member 16, it can be seen that each of the support arms 30 can be adjustably mounted on the support member 16 to vary the spacing between the web sections 36 according to the spacing required to accommodate the width of the particular articles designed to be stored. However, to provide for more precise spacing between the support arms 30, a modification of the holder is shown in FIG. 7 wherein a support member 50 includes upper and lower flange sections 51 which have a series of aligned slots 52 so that each support arm 55 may be precisely adjusted simply by unloosening the bolt 42 and sliding the arm 55 laterally on the support member 50. The more precise adjustment and spacing provided by this modification is ideally suited for storing relatively thin articles between the arms 55, as for example, a series of screw drivers or wrenches. As another slight modification for the tool holder of the invention, a series of aligned openings 56 (FIG. 7) may be provided within one or more support arms 55 for retaining smaller articles such as a screw driver or punch.

In accordance with another modified form of a holder constructed in accordance with the invention, FIG. 6 shows a tool holder including a support member 16 and a pair of support arms 60 which are formed substantially the same as the arms 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 but further includes a slot 62 and radius 64 formed on the upper and lower tabs 65 extending from the corresponding flange section 66. According to this embodiment, when the bolt 42 is unloosened, the arm 60 may be shifted laterally thereby enabling the arm to be collapsed with the flange section 18 of the support member 16 received between the flange sections of the arms 60.

This collapsing feature has been found desirable for folding the arms 60 parallel to the wall surface 12 when the holder is not in use. In addition, when the arms 60 are collapsed, the holder can be conveniently packaged within a relatively small compact carton ideally suited for shipment. It can also be seen that the slot 62 in each arm enables the arm 60 to be shifted to a lock position (FIG. 6) when the arm is in a position projecting cantileveredly from the support member 16 and thereby prevents the arms from collapsing when in use.

Another application of a 'holder constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 8 wherein a pair of support members 16 are mounted on a wall surface by the screws 28 in horizontally spaced relationship. A single arm 30 is mounted on each of the support members 16 and projects outwardly for supporting a shelf 70 which extends between the arms 30 and rests upon the upper flange sections 32. The stops 45 prevent the shelf 70 from sliding forwardly.

As can be seen from the drawing and the above description, a holder constructed in accordance with the invention provides several desirable features and advantages. Specifically, as a result of forming the holder from strips of light gauge sheet metal, it has been found that the holder of the invention can be constructed at a significantly low cost. Furthermore, by forming the sheet metal to provide the support member 16 and arms 30 with a channel-like cross-sectional configuration, the holder has substantial strength and rigidity which are necessary for storing articles having substantial weight such as those. shown in FIG. 1. Also, the strength of the holder enables a pair of holders to be used for supporting a shelf as shown in FIG. 8 without requiring significant space underneath the shelf.

A highly desirable feature is also provided by the mounting of the arms 30 on the support member 16. That is, by providing the integral wide connecting tabs 38 on each arm, the upper and lower tabs are capable of withstanding substantial tension and compression respectively when the arms 30 are loaded by the placement of relatively heavy articles thereon. Also, by providing the plurality of aligned holes 29 in the support member 16, the spaced relationship of the arms 30 can be conveniently adjusted for accommodating various articles having handle portions of different widths.

Another feature is provided by the modification of the holder shown in FIG. 6 wherein the support arms 60 may be collapsed to a position parallelwith the support member 16 when the holder is not in use or for packaging. This modification also provides for locking of the support arms 60 when they are in the extending position. The modification shown in FIG. 7 further provides for more precise adjusting and spacing of the support arms 55 when it is desirable to space the arms for accommodating relatively slim articles as a group of wrenches or the like.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. An improved holder adapted to be mounted on an upright surface for storing tools and other articles which may have substantial weight, and further adapted to provide maximum strength and rigidity at minimum cost, comprising an elongated support member having longitudinal extending and spaced apart flange sections integrally connected along their lengths by a web section to define generally a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, means for attaching said support member to the surface so that said flange sections extend horizontally, a pair of elongated arms each having longitudinally extending and spaced apart flange sections integrally connected along their length by a web section to define generally a U-shaped cross-section configuration, and means for cantileveredly mounting said arms on said support member so that said arms project generally horizontally in parallel spaced relationship from said support member for storing one or more articles resting thereon.

2. A holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said arms on said support member include integral tabs extending from corresponding ends of said flange sections of each said arm and are spaced apart to receive said flange sections of said support member in interfitting relationship, means defining aligned holes in said tabs and said flange sections of said support memher, and pin means extending through said holes for rigidly securing said arms to said support member.

3. A holder as defined in claim 2 including means defining a plurality of aligned holes spaced at longitudinal intervals on said flange sections of said support member for adjustably positioning said support arms on said support member according to the spaced relationship which best accommodates the articles being stored.

4. A holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said support member to the vertical surface includes longitudinally extending and coplanar upper and lower mounting flanges each integrally connected along its length to the corresponding said flange section of said support member, and means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes in said mounting flanges.

5. A holder defined in claim 4 wherein said tabs extending from said arms include square end surfaces lying adjacent a corresponding said mounting flange of said support member to prevent pivoting of said arms on said support member.

6. A holder as defined in claim '2 wherein said means for mounting said arms on said support member include means defining aligned slots in said flange sections of said support member, and bolt means extending through the aligned said holes in said tabs and said slots in said support member for retaining and adjustably spacing said arms in precise parallel spaced relationship to each other.

7. A holder as defined in claim 1 including means associated With said mounting means for pivotally collapsing each said arm against the surface when the holder is not in use, and means for locking each said arm in cantilevered position to prevent collapsing of said arms when articles are stored on said holder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,805,777 .9 /1957 Larson 2ll60 3,095,092.- 6/1963 Magarian 2l160 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examincf. 

1. AN IMPROVED HOLDER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON AN UPRIGHT SURFACE FOR STORING TOOLS AND OTHER ARTICLES WHICH MAY HAVE SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT, AND FURTHER ADAPTED TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM STRENGTH AND RIGIDITY AT MINIMUM COST, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING LONGITUDINAL EXTENDING AND SPACED APART FLANGE SECTIONS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED ALONG THEIR LENGTHS BY A WEB SECTION TO DEFINE GENERALLY A U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION, MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO THE SURFACE SO THAT SAID FLANGE SECTIONS EXTEND HORIZONTALLY, A PAIR OF ELONGATED ARMS EACH HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND SPACED APART FLANGE SECTIONS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED ALONG THEIR LENGTH BY A WEB SECTION TO DEFINE GENERALLY A U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION CONFIGURATION, AND MEANS FOR CANTILEVEREDLY MOUNTING SAID ARMS ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER SO THAT SAID ARMS PROJECT GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR STORING ONE OR MORE ARTICLES RESTING THEREON. 